Technology Magazine June 2022 | Page 55

INNOVATION LABS
Leica BLK ARC : Autonomous Reality Capture for Robots
Automated Workplaces The global market for cobots is expected to be worth USD $ 8bn by 2026 – corresponding to a compound annual growth rate of 42 % over a six-year period . So it ’ s clear that they are set to increasingly impact the workplace , enabling a greater division of labour , with staff members able to concentrate on tasks that value a human touch , such as interacting with customers .
Spruijt continued : “ Whereas it ’ s tempting to imagine that automation will only ever touch high-tech environments such as factories and industrial sites , the truth is that robots will take up task loads wherever strenuous and repetitive work can be found . If a task needs doing with precision and consistency , chances are robots will find their way to assist , working alongside humans and freeing up time for them to tackle more specialist tasks ”.
A crucial advantage of having autonomous robots in deployment is an ability to inform

“Chatbots are now simply part of modern life ”

JAMES STOKES SALES DIRECTOR , UK & ROI , INFOBIP
better operational decisions through access to real-time , high resolution data they are able to collect , according to Spruijt .
“ From providing detailed verifiable reports on cleaning activity to providing real-time inventory data , autonomous robots can add to a facility manager ' s 360 % view of operations and help them optimise operations ,” he adds .
Spruijt cites many existing applications as clear examples of robots effectiveness , saying : “ Several years ago , ‘ TUGs ’ began appearing on hospital wards . These
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